<?php
class Block_DepartmentMenu extends Zend_Controller_Action_Helper_Abstract
{
    private $_view;
    protected $_params = array();
    
    public function __construct($view, $params) {
        $this->_view = $view;
        $this->_params = $params;
    }

    public function init() {
        $this->createDeptMenuBlock();
    }

    public function createDeptMenuBlock() {
        $layout = Zend_Controller_Front::getInstance()->getParam('bootstrap')->getResource('Layout');                
        $layout->departmentMenu = $this->_view->partial(
            'department_menu.phtml',
            $this->_params //array
        );
    }

}